Seasonal

By April M Barney
“The Santas used to be packed up after Christmas, but we are so fond of them that we now leave them out all year long. They remind me of Christmas and all the reasons for the happiness of the season.” —Misty Walker
“I like to think that our home reflects us and the [...]

Features

Roses are a little bit like celebrities. Both have a reputation for being mysterious, elusive and a little bit fussy, and yet somehow they are available everywhere—even in the grocery store checkout line.
But take a closer look at this age-old flower. Roses have a lot more to offer than fodder for tabloids; they have been [...]

House Mechanic

By definition, a roof is simply the top covering of a structure. But to a home, the roof serves as a defender against all outside elements—water, ice, wind, debris, and anything else that makes its way onto the vast surface we live beneath. With this in mind, keeping the roof clean and healthy helps homeowners [...]

Favorite Things

Anyone can welcome sunshine into their home, but not everyone can do it with style. That requires plantation shutters.

Always present in the decadent plantation homes of the South, plantation shutters are a statement piece. Using them throughout the house not only complements windows but brings continuity to a home.
“The appeal is that it’s window [...]

In The Yard

I love getting dressed up! It is so fun to pick out a special outfit, take extra time to fix my hair and even don false eyelashes to head out for a spectacular evening. Yet there have been times when I have arrived back home from a great night out only to find that the [...]

Simply Southern

Most Southern hostesses believe in going to great lengths to make their guests feel special. When entertaining, unless they are hosting a small group of very close friends, most hostesses will add a little extra color to their platters or plates to present food in its most favorable light. As we all know, even take-out [...]

RSVP

“Bread, that this house may never know hunger.
Salt, that life will always have flavor.
Wine, that joy and prosperity may always reign forever.”
Everyone feels the excitement as actress Donna Reed gifts a couple who has purchased a new house in the classic movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.” This part of my favorite holiday movie never fails [...]

Culinary Corner

Is it just my competitive nature, or is this everyone’s scenario? At every potluck, I watch to see if my contribution is “selling.” It’s true validation when mine is the first empty dish, but I’ll take anywhere in the top couple of empty dishes as a positive vote. And if more than one person asks [...]

Hot Tips

At this time of year, most of us are ready to be outside and enjoy the spaces we’ve worked so hard to clean, plant, groom and furnish. While we have many spots of beauty in our yards, there are a few unsightly components—think utility meters, cables, air conditioning units, trash cans and the like—that many [...]

Showcase Home

Debra McCabe’s home on the historic Ivy Hill estate in Forest is truly a house of contrasts. An eclectic mix of elegant and casual furnishings is set against the backdrop of her century-old log cabin. The great styling here is really not surprising, considering Debra’s background. She is the owner of The Columns, which is arguably one [...]

The Power Of Color

The colors you choose for your walls affect your mood, how you feel about a room and your comfort level in that room. So choosing the right color for a home office presents a special challenge; it’s part of your home, yet it’s also a place where you must be productive, whether you use the [...]

Design Line

You know what they say about first impressions: You get one chance to make a good one. Your home’s foyer presents the perfect opportunity to give your guests a good impression about the rest of your home and the experience they’ll have visiting you. This space is often overlooked, however, because either we don’t use [...]

Around Town

Loft Tour Looks at Downtown Living
The Sixth Annual Downtown Lynchburg Loft Tour was held on Saturday, February 27. This annual fundraiser for the Free Clinic of Central Virginia has been held on the last Saturday in February since 2005, and has grown from 150 participants in the first year to close to 500 attendees in [...]